Zamboanga Int’l Airport operations back to normal after quake

The Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA) suspended its operations on Wednesday due to flooded runway. fireworks

Zamboanga International Airport. www.zamboanga.com

MANILA, Philippines — Zamboanga International Airport’s (ZIA) resumed normal operations Thursday afternoon after cracks were spotted in parts of the passenger terminal following a magnitude 5.4 earthquake that struck the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced.

Zamboanga del Norte province was struck by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake – initially reported as a magnitude 6.1 quake – at around 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 23, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

“While critical airport facilities sustained no significant structural damage, visible cracks were detected on the walls and ceilings of ZIA’s Passenger Terminal Building,” the CAAP reported in an advisory on Thursday afternoon.

“Repair work is already underway to address these issues and restore the terminal’s full safety and functionality,” CAAP added.

As precautionary measures, airport personnel and passengers were evacuated and landing and takeoff operations were suspended while authorities inspected the building.

After inspections, normal operations resumed in the Zamboanga International Airport, the CAAP said in a message to on Thursday afternoon.

“Other airports in the region, including Pagadian Airport, Dipolog Airport, and Ipil Airport, reported no damages and remain fully operational, ” CAAP{ added.

Phivolcs said aftershocks were possible from the Zamboanga del Norte quake.

Likewise, the CAAP reported no damages to airports in Southern Leyte, following a magnitude 5.8 earthquake in that province earlier on Thursday morning.

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